Hip-hop star Will.i.am is best known for his music projects, but the Black Eyed Peas rapper is branching out into tech.

The i.am+ foto.sosho accessories for the iPhone

He showed off a new line of iPhone camera accessories, i.am+ foto.sosho, at the Macworld/iWorld expo this week, where he was tapped to talk about “futurehunting” with Intel futurist Brian David Johnson.

The steampunk-inspired cases for the iPhone 4, 4s, and 5 resemble vintage cameras. Will.i.am during his Macworld talk said the cases are an example of futurehunting, or applying forward-thinking technology to classic designs.

Will.i.am

The cases, currently only available in the UK, let you snap and edit photos, add filters, and upload shots to social media accounts. They even come with different lens attachments, like a real camera. We had hands-on time with a model equipped with a sliding keyboard, and we were impressed.

This isn’t Will.i.am’s first tech venture; he last year partnered with Intel to record new music on an Ultrabook. He is also involved in efforts to expand STEM education initiatives at inner-city schools.

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